Kathryn O'Neil, Psy.D., MSEd
Clinical Psychologist and Director of Psychological Testing
Kate established the Psychological Services department at Cumberland Counseling in 2024 in order to increase access and provide comprehensive and contextual insights into psychological strengths, growing edges, and diagnosis for a diverse community. Kate now oversees the department of three psychologists and offers training opportunities to doctoral students to learn assessment from a Therapeutic Assessment model, which prioritizes empowering clients with understandable data to enhance their therapeutic work and their ability to self-advocate.
Kate earned a master's degree in Special Education from Portland State University and spent years working in residential treatment centers with children experiencing trauma before developing a social-emotional program implemented in a public school setting. She left teaching to earn a Master of Science and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. Her clinical experience includes two years in a memory clinic, testing adults with memory impairment; working on clinical trials and practica at Hillcrest Educational Centers and Maps Counseling Services; and an internship at LUK. Inc, conducting therapy and psychological testing within the context of complex family systems and intergenerational trauma. Kate has also spent several years working as a part of a SAMHSA grant during her post-doctoral fellowship at Maps Counseling in Keene, NH to offer trauma-informed training and consultation to area organizations, including with local police departments, schools, and the state of New Hampshire, when she was not teaching classes on trauma-informed care and psychological assessment in Antioch University’s Clinical Psychology program. Overall, Kate has a decade of experience with educational, psychological, and neuropsychological testing of all ages, with an emphasis on assessment as a therapeutic intervention to know oneself better and advocate for appropriate support. She holds licenses in Rhode Island and New Hampshire and is a member of the PsyPact interjurisdictional agreement.
As a clinician, Kate offers both psychological assessment and therapy with a focus on children, teens, and young adults, specializing in trauma, relationships, and LGBTQ+ issues. Kate’s therapeutic style is playful and collaborative, allowing clients to move at their own pace and to serve as experts in their own experiences. Integrating CBT, ACT, EMDR, sand tray, and play therapy techniques into a relational-cultural model of therapy, Kate works to provide a space where clients can feel valued for who they are and have room to explore, learn, and grow.
As a supervisor, Kate enjoys meeting students where they are and harnessing their strengths as clinicians while challenging them to try new things and use feedback for growth. Kate employs a relational model in this capacity as well, with a focus on partnering with students to take initiative in their own learning and to try models of interest to them. Kate offers individual supervision, group supervision, didactics, and a scaffolded model of teaching assessment to meet a range of educational needs.
Kate is a Vermont native who enjoys walking with her big fluffy dog, getting good coffee and donuts, doing yoga, and trying her best to keep houseplants alive.
Insurances Accepted
